Published by
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Citizen Information Service

Consumer: Alcoholic Beverages

The Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission is the general supervisor of the alcoholic beverages industry in Massachusetts.
In September of 2003 the Legislature transferred the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission to the Office of State Treasurer.
The agency's responsibilities were specified in: MGL Chapter 10§ 71 which states that the commission shall have general
supervision of the conduct of the business of manufacturing, importing, exporting, storing, transporting and selling alcoholic
beverages as defined in section 1 of chapter 138, and also of the quality, purity and alcoholic content thereof; and in MGL
Chapter 10§ 72 which states that the commissioner may appoint a chief investigator and other investigators for the purpose
of enforcing or causing to be enforced the penalties provided by law against every person who is guilty of a violation of chapter
138 of which they can obtain reasonable proof, and shall make all necessary and appropriate investigations for that purpose.